THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE SEA EMPRESS SPILLAGE

ABSTRACT The Sea Empress oil spillage has had a substantial impoverishing effect on what was already a poor part of a poor region. The major negative impact has been on the local tourism industry, although the much smaller local fishing industry was also badly hit. However, the cleanup operation did provide a much needed, albeit temporary, injection of local spending. The Sea Empress spillage has also colored local attitudes to other environmentally sensitive projects, with long-term consequences that may dwarf the direct effects of the oil spillage.